Live-line clamp



G. A. ILER LIVE LINE CLAMP Filed Sept. 30, 1925 ziglllllll gwmmtoz Georgefl 1 v 61 NM n a Figure 4 is ferent diameter to not only secure a ti Patented May s, 1928.

GEORGE ARTHUR ILEB, OI YOUNGSTOWN,

' uvn-zcnm cnmr.

Application filed September 30, 1925. Serial no. 59,883.

This invention relates to clamps for liveline electric wires.

A primary object is to provide a novel device possessing features of construction which make it possible to produce a clamp that functions in a simple, practical and reliable manner, and which may be made at a minimum cost.

In addition to the foregoing general object the invention contemplates a line-wire clamp having wire gripping jaws arranged to obtain maximum clamping leverage, and the means for actuating the jaws so disposed and arranged that an operator standing on the ground below the line can more readily manipulate thesame than in devices heretofore used for this purpose.

A further object or the invention is to provide a clampwithout coil springs or other readily fusible parts which is capable of handling all wire sizes, and also permits of obtaining a positive grip on wires of difengagement but also effect a superior e ectrical contact to prevent overheating.

With the above and other ob ects in view which will more readily appear as the na-- ture of the invention 1s better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which 3 Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved clamp.

Figure 2 is an end elevation.

Figure 3 is an and elevation of the opposite end of the clamp from that shown in a top plan view. Figure 5 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Similar reference characters designate cor-- responding arts throughout the several figures of the rawings.

As will be observed from the drawings the present clamp includes in its organization a. body 1 provided witha socket 2 for receiving the e d of the flexible side line conductor 3 which may be securely held in the socket by means of the clamping eye 4 operating in the yoke portion 4' which includes the receiving eye 4". The u per end of the body 1 is provided with the 0 set arms to manipulate the same throng .ground to hold the insulated stic 5 which receive therebetween the wire clampmg means designated generally as C. This CIEHPPIDO' means preferably consists of a pair of aw elements 6-6 but a single jaw equal to the width of the double jaw may be used if desired. These 'aws are preferably formed with the head portions 7 intermediate shoulders 8 which fit into the depressed seat 8 of the body; and the wire gripping fingers 9 which have compound curved surfaces that are designed to clamp wires of various diameter thereto as will be clearly apparent from Figure 1.

For the purpose of holding the jaws in place, whereby the same may ellectiv'ely clamp the wire to the body the rear faces of the jaws opposite the fulcrum point 8 are provided with the recesses 10 for receiving a corrugated leaf spring 11 both-ends of which are provided with oflset ears as at 12-12 thereby to straddle the fulcrum pin "13 which is fitted into the members 5 as nipulating member 16. The upper end 17 v of this member bears against the heads 7 of the clampin jaws while the opposite end 18 is prefera ly of eye formation thereby to permit of convenient y grippin the member the threaded lug 14.

It will be noted that the In 14 is inclined at an oblique angle to the b0 y 1 which not only produces a wedging bearing efiect between the manipulating screw and the jaws, but also enables the operator standin on thfi wit which he mani ulates the eye 18 of the screw at a slight ang e and readily twist the screw from a position standing on the ground. Heretofore, in wire clamps of this character it has been the practice to use a manipulating screw positioned at right angles to the jaws which necessitates the operator holding the tool in an awkward position, and furthermore does not permit of exerting a maximum pressure on the jaws. In the present construction I employ a jaw which operates as a lever of the first class and not as a lever of the third class wherein the power is a plied between the fulcrum and the wor By providing a jaw which is a' lever of the first class and a relatively self-adjusting fulcrum reat effectiveness is obtained.

Wit out further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the mvention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, prov portion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

1. A live-wire line-clamp comprising a body having a conductor receiving socket at one end thereof, laterally extending spaced arms formed at the opposite end of said body, said body being provided with a depressed seat adjacent said arms, a clamping .jaw pivoted between said arms and cooperating with said depressed seat, a threaded lug on said body adjacent said arms extending obliquely from and on'the opposite side of said body from said arms, and operating means extending through said lug for holding said clamping jaw in the desired position.

2. A live-wire line-clamp comprising a body having a conductor receivin socket at one end thereof and laterally extending spaced arms at its opposite end, said body being provided with adepressed seat adjacent said arms, a clamping jaw pivoted be tween said arms and cooperating with said seat, resilient tensioning means for said jaw, a threaded lug extending obliquely from said body in an opposite direction from said arms, and a threaded operating member operable therethrough for engagement with signature.

said clamping jaw for holding the same in the'de'sired adjusted position.

3. A live-wire line-clamp comprising a body having a conductor receiving-socket at one .end thereof and laterally extending spaced arms at its opposite end, said body 4 being provided with a depressed seat adjacent said arms, a clamping jaw pivoted between said arms and provided with a head portion and a gripping finger at its op osite ends and an intermediate clamping 0111- 5 der for cooperating with said seat, resilient pivot pin supported in the arms and spaced from the face having said seat, a clampin jaw having a portion adapted to fit in sai seat, a leaf spring between the jaw and the pivot pin, and a screw member carried by the body at an oblique angle to the said face having the seat and having one end slidabl'y engaging with the jaw at the side of the pin opposite the clamping ortion thereof and having the'other end isposed for convenient manipulation from the ground.

Intestimony whereof I hereunto aflix my GEORGE- ARTHUR ILER. 

